End of the season for kart racing families

The Spokane Kart Racing Association has a track on the West Plains near Airway Heights and holds 11 points races through the spring, summer and fall. About half of the drivers are young, from kindergarten age to their teen years, supported by families who love motorsports. Half are adults who push their tiny machines well over 60 miles an hour on the straightaways. But Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 was a day just for fun. There were races that started LeMans-style, with racers running to their karts. There was a relay race and one just for moms. More information about the sport is at spokanekarting.org

Section:Gallery

Sun., Oct. 23, 2016

Cameron Blakesley, 8, gets last minute instructions from his grandfather, Mike Van Dinter, right, before the start of a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Mike Van Dinter, right, pours fuel into the racing go-kart of his grandson Cameron Blakesley, center, while Cameron's mother, Karrie Blakesley, left, straps on his helment for the next race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Mike Van Dinter, standing at left, waits by the racing go-kart of his grandson Garson Blakesley, 11, while older drivers wait for the next race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. The karting club is made up of families supporting children who love racing as well as adults who enjoy the speed and the competition.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Drivers run to their go-karts and prepare to race in a LeMans-style start, part of a novelty race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day for fun, with no points awarded, though there was stiff competition for bragging rights.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Carson Blakesley (10), age 11, speeds through an S-turn during a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Isabella Granlund (8), age 11, drives with a group of senior racers during a warm-ups Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer start their warm-up laps before a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing. The fastest carts can average 45 miles per hour on the track, hitting 60 mpg on the straightaways.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racers wait in their idling karts while dads and grandparents keep an eye out for problems before a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Many kart racers are pre-teens, supported by families with long involvement in motorsports. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing. The fastest carts can average 45 miles per hour on the track, hitting 60 mpg on the straightaways.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Riley Miller, age 11, motors along by herself during warm-up laps Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing. The powerful karts can hit 60 miles per hour on the straightaways.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Isabella Granlund, 11, walks back to the pits with, from left, Mike Van Dinter, left, Patrick Johnson, second from left, and Shane Blakesley, right, after her kart's engine blew apart during a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Cameron Blakesley, 8, draws a senior driver to be his partner in a relay race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Junior racers carried a flag around the track several times before handing their flag to a senior racer to complete the race. Sunday's event was schedule of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Drivers in the senior division, and skilled junior driver Carson Blakesles, 11, center, run to their go-karts and prepare to race in a LeMans-style start, part of a novelty race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Driver Tim Dragoo, left, and race official Chip Gasaway walk the track to look for hazards before the start of a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. The tiny karts used for racing can hit 60 miles per hour and the two were making sure there was no litter or oil on the track. Dragoo is the president of the association. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Kart racers, from left, Cameron Blakesley, 8, Dayton Popple, 7, and Ben Corkery, 6, hang out in the pit area waiting for the next race Sunday, oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Tony Schaaf, 7, hugs a corner and fends off Riley Miller, 11, who is behind him Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing. The powerful karts can hit 60 miles per hour on the straightaways.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Cameron Blakesley, 8, waits for the next race to begin Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was schedule of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing. Many who drive the tiny race cars are pre-teens who are supported by their motorsports families.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Carson Blakesley, age 11, stuffs a quick doughnut into his mouth before a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Dayton Popple, 7, right, holds his first place trophy and smiles while Ben Corkery, 6, left, and Tony Schaaf, 7, center, hold their second and third-place trophies for their wins in the last race of the Spokane Kart Racing Association season Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the SKRA track on Spokane's West Plains. The three youngsters are in the Kids Kart Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Junior racer Isabella Granlund, 11, walks back to the pits with her stepdad Patrick Johnson after her kart's engine blew apart during a race Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Spokane Kart Racing Associate track on Spokane's West Plains. Sunday's event was a day of novelty races to end the season for outdoor kart racing.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review